Boston for Easter -- mainly dining questions.
Mar 6th, 2015, 05:10 AM
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Boston for Easter -- mainly dining questions.
We had two free Hyatt nights about to expire, so have decided to drive up to Boston for Easter weekend. Will arrive late Friday afternoon, and then drive home to NJ midday on Monday. We're staying at the Hyatt Regency.
Looking at restaurants and haven't been to Boston in ages. I know that Cambridge is quite the center, but it seems silly when there are so many good places we could walk to nearer our hotel to do that. I'm fascinated with Ostra, which sounds wonderful. And I would sort of like to do Mama Maria -- thinking maybe even at noon on Easter -- as we'll be walking all day, but kind of out of the way to go to the north end in the evening. Had a reservation there years ago and it was cancelled due to some minor fire in the kitchen or something like that. And lobster rolls from James Hook are calling me.
Our biggest thing with restaurants is avoiding the screamingly loud noisy places, which takes about 90% of all the new and trendy places out of the picture. Any ideas for quiet, darker, "romantic" sorts of places that are relaxed, not jammed in at small tables, and have great food? I don't want much, do I? LOL
We'll probably be doing museums, but haven't even started looking. We were also thinking maybe doing a relaxing brunch buffet sort of thing for Easter day, but I haven't found such a thing, despite a lot of googling.
Sadly, I've found no "exciting" theatre in Boston that weekend, but that's OK too.
Looking at restaurants and haven't been to Boston in ages. I know that Cambridge is quite the center, but it seems silly when there are so many good places we could walk to nearer our hotel to do that. I'm fascinated with Ostra, which sounds wonderful. And I would sort of like to do Mama Maria -- thinking maybe even at noon on Easter -- as we'll be walking all day, but kind of out of the way to go to the north end in the evening. Had a reservation there years ago and it was cancelled due to some minor fire in the kitchen or something like that. And lobster rolls from James Hook are calling me.
Our biggest thing with restaurants is avoiding the screamingly loud noisy places, which takes about 90% of all the new and trendy places out of the picture. Any ideas for quiet, darker, "romantic" sorts of places that are relaxed, not jammed in at small tables, and have great food? I don't want much, do I? LOL
We'll probably be doing museums, but haven't even started looking. We were also thinking maybe doing a relaxing brunch buffet sort of thing for Easter day, but I haven't found such a thing, despite a lot of googling.
Sadly, I've found no "exciting" theatre in Boston that weekend, but that's OK too.
Mar 6th, 2015, 06:11 AM
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though I haven't been, the best known brunch buffet is Henrietta's Table at the Charles Hotel in Harvard square. Lots of people rave about it.
One nice, fairly romantic, quiet place that I like is Deuxave. It's actually pretty easy to get too, being right across the Mass Ave bridge from Cambridge. I think the food is great. And the tables near the back are quiet, and there is a fireplace. I like it a lot.
I checked the American Repertory theater schedule for you, and they have "The Hypocrites Mikado". I saw a similar production last year of Pirates of Penzance, and thought it was very good. But the Mikado is in the Oberon theater which I don't like much (seats are kind of uncomfortable). so you are right, there doesn't seem to be much in the way of theater that weekend. You guys ever do classical music? The BSO has a good program, led by our new music director.
One nice, fairly romantic, quiet place that I like is Deuxave. It's actually pretty easy to get too, being right across the Mass Ave bridge from Cambridge. I think the food is great. And the tables near the back are quiet, and there is a fireplace. I like it a lot.
I checked the American Repertory theater schedule for you, and they have "The Hypocrites Mikado". I saw a similar production last year of Pirates of Penzance, and thought it was very good. But the Mikado is in the Oberon theater which I don't like much (seats are kind of uncomfortable). so you are right, there doesn't seem to be much in the way of theater that weekend. You guys ever do classical music? The BSO has a good program, led by our new music director.
Mar 6th, 2015, 06:58 AM
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Oh, China, maybe I wasn't clear. We're at the Boston Hyatt Regency, not the Cambridge one. Was trying to avoid going over to Cambridge just to eat, but if it's simply "spectacular". . .well. Although I noticed that Henrietta's Table will be doing a "special" holiday brunch for Easter, whatever that means -- presumably "let's charge a lot more and see how many people we can get through here in a day". Ooops, am I being overly negative or just showing my experience? Funny, I also looked at the Top of the Hub which normally does a major brunch buffet, but for Easter it's a "hurry up and get out" three course fixed price instead at $69 which really doesn't appeal at all!
Funny you mention Deuxave. I was looking at that this morning. It does look great, but quite a long way from our hotel. I actually found that by googling "quiet and romantic". Which is also how I came up with the reminder about Mama Maria's.
Funny you mention Deuxave. I was looking at that this morning. It does look great, but quite a long way from our hotel. I actually found that by googling "quiet and romantic". Which is also how I came up with the reminder about Mama Maria's.
Mar 6th, 2015, 07:09 AM
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you know, I should have figured that out. You said there were lots of restaurants in walking distance, and I'm pretty sure that's not true of the Cambridge Hyatt!
I wonder if Trouquet might fit the bill. I think its not quite as romantic as Deuxave, but the food is very good. Try to get a table near the windows, because its quieter (farther from the staircase), and you get a great view of the park...which really improves the ambiance. #9 Park is really good, but my recollection is the tables are very close together, and its loud. There are a number of places in that neighborhood that have a good reputation for food, but I haven't been so I can't give a first hand recommendation...jm curley, Teatro, a little further away, Erbaluce. Actually, I've heard great things about Erbaluce, but never managed to get there.
I wonder if Trouquet might fit the bill. I think its not quite as romantic as Deuxave, but the food is very good. Try to get a table near the windows, because its quieter (farther from the staircase), and you get a great view of the park...which really improves the ambiance. #9 Park is really good, but my recollection is the tables are very close together, and its loud. There are a number of places in that neighborhood that have a good reputation for food, but I haven't been so I can't give a first hand recommendation...jm curley, Teatro, a little further away, Erbaluce. Actually, I've heard great things about Erbaluce, but never managed to get there.
Mar 6th, 2015, 08:24 AM
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Patrick, you might like No 9 Park. http://no9park.com/menus/
(I have a thread about how I messed up our reservations there, for a graduation dinner last May.)
It's not necessarily "dark", though. Very small. Very good service. Not loud or crowded. A gorgeous place.
As I posted, I thought my steak dinner was a tad on the small side, but the food was awesome. Especially the prune gnocchi appetizer (who knew?)
Everyone loved their meal. It filled the bill for a special graduation dinner.
(I have a thread about how I messed up our reservations there, for a graduation dinner last May.)
It's not necessarily "dark", though. Very small. Very good service. Not loud or crowded. A gorgeous place.
As I posted, I thought my steak dinner was a tad on the small side, but the food was awesome. Especially the prune gnocchi appetizer (who knew?)
Everyone loved their meal. It filled the bill for a special graduation dinner.
Mar 6th, 2015, 08:57 AM
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hmmm...I'm wondering if I'm misremembering #9 park. I do remember the prune gnocchi were very good. But my recollection was a small table squeezed into a corner, and kind of noisy...but Tab2 has maybe been more recently than me, so ignore my comment. Its definitely excellent food.
Mar 6th, 2015, 09:09 AM
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LOL. I'm guessing china_cat was there the same night as Tabernash. The reason china-cat found it noisy was that giddy person celebrating a long graduation weekend!
It's interesting trying to read between the lines of reviews. But when I see "vibrant", "great buzz", "trendy", "filled with happy diners", etc. most of it seems to translate to "noisy" to me. Teatro, which sounds just delicious and seems a bargain at pricing, gets all those definitions, for example.
It's interesting trying to read between the lines of reviews. But when I see "vibrant", "great buzz", "trendy", "filled with happy diners", etc. most of it seems to translate to "noisy" to me. Teatro, which sounds just delicious and seems a bargain at pricing, gets all those definitions, for example.
Mar 6th, 2015, 09:33 AM
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Teatro's room is definitely accousticly challenged, but a favorite. It is part of a fantasticly trained restaurant group which includes the newest member of the family Ostra. I've yet to visit but have enjoyed many a meal at their other places, Sorrelina and the original Mistral. Ostra, haven not yet been there, would be my first choice for a special dinner, although china has given you great alternatives with Troquet and Erbaluce and Devauxe.
Run away from the thought of Top of the Hub!!!
Run away from the thought of Top of the Hub!!!
Mar 6th, 2015, 09:57 AM
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Top of the Hub was a thought for a leisurely buffet brunch with a view. Sure, never great food, but those things are fine for what they are. But when it became a prepared three course probably prepared ahead and stacked up for instant serving -- that thought disappeared.
Buffet brunches can be fine for us, but otherwise we avoid buffets like the plague!
Buffet brunches can be fine for us, but otherwise we avoid buffets like the plague!
Mar 6th, 2015, 10:32 AM
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Mar 6th, 2015, 12:32 PM
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Ah, Boston Harbor Hotel -- Exactly what I was talking about, but yea, maybe a little over the top. I looked at their website and it says nothing about providing a wheel chair to wheel you back to your own hotel after.
Is there a price for the one at the Bristol Lounge?
Is there a price for the one at the Bristol Lounge?
Mar 6th, 2015, 12:43 PM
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Two of the best non buffet brunches are Mistral (which is part of the Columbus Group of Ostra) and Craigie on Main in Cambridge/Central Square. No idea on cost at Bristol. We usually just go for their burger, salad and a tini.
Mar 6th, 2015, 01:09 PM
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I'm fascinated with Ostra, which sounds wonderful.
It is a very good "date night" place, but it is kind of stuffy. For me, it tries too hard to be chic, and Boston doesn't do chic well as a general rule and it comes across as suburban to me. Very pricey, but if you've been looking at the website, I assume you have factored that in.
Actually, I've heard great things about Erbaluce, but never managed to get there.
Erbaluce is very good. It is easily the best Italian restaurant I have been to in Boston. Miles ahead of the places in the North End. Service is very nice - not too formal. Nice wine list of pretty much only Italian wines. Only downside is that they only have a cordial license, so you can't get a lot of hard liquor, though they are pretty creative with some cocktails.
We were also thinking maybe doing a relaxing brunch buffet sort of thing for Easter day, but I haven't found such a thing, despite a lot of googling.
Try Bistro du Midi maybe? Or Mistral as mentioned by someone else.
I know that Cambridge is quite the center, but it seems silly when there are so many good places we could walk to nearer our hotel to do that.
Well, what you can walk to depends upon what you are looking for. You are right on the edge of Chinatown and the theater district. Chinatown has some good places (Taiwan Cafe, Shojo, Gourmet Dumpling House, Peach Farm), but none seem like what you are looking for. Much of the theater district is underwhelming. I'd recommend JM Curley's, but pretty sure that is not what you want (though it is good). You've found Ostra. You could also try Townsman, which is brand new, but has a highly regarded chef.
It is a very good "date night" place, but it is kind of stuffy. For me, it tries too hard to be chic, and Boston doesn't do chic well as a general rule and it comes across as suburban to me. Very pricey, but if you've been looking at the website, I assume you have factored that in.
Actually, I've heard great things about Erbaluce, but never managed to get there.
Erbaluce is very good. It is easily the best Italian restaurant I have been to in Boston. Miles ahead of the places in the North End. Service is very nice - not too formal. Nice wine list of pretty much only Italian wines. Only downside is that they only have a cordial license, so you can't get a lot of hard liquor, though they are pretty creative with some cocktails.
We were also thinking maybe doing a relaxing brunch buffet sort of thing for Easter day, but I haven't found such a thing, despite a lot of googling.
Try Bistro du Midi maybe? Or Mistral as mentioned by someone else.
I know that Cambridge is quite the center, but it seems silly when there are so many good places we could walk to nearer our hotel to do that.
Well, what you can walk to depends upon what you are looking for. You are right on the edge of Chinatown and the theater district. Chinatown has some good places (Taiwan Cafe, Shojo, Gourmet Dumpling House, Peach Farm), but none seem like what you are looking for. Much of the theater district is underwhelming. I'd recommend JM Curley's, but pretty sure that is not what you want (though it is good). You've found Ostra. You could also try Townsman, which is brand new, but has a highly regarded chef.
Mar 6th, 2015, 01:43 PM
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Some others I should have mentioned:
O Ya - very near your hotel and excellent. Very pricey.
Asta - my current favorite restaurant in Boston. A bit further from your hotel, but I think it worth the trip.
Clio - consistently good for years. Excellent service and great bar. The sushi bar - Uni - attached to Clio is also very good.
O Ya - very near your hotel and excellent. Very pricey.
Asta - my current favorite restaurant in Boston. A bit further from your hotel, but I think it worth the trip.
Clio - consistently good for years. Excellent service and great bar. The sushi bar - Uni - attached to Clio is also very good.
